• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Champagne Tastes®
  • About
  • Travel
    • Food Travel
    • Outdoor Adventure
  • Recipes
    • Garden To Table
    • Seafood
    • Camping Recipes
    • Ferment
    • Backyard Foraging + Wild Game
    • Cooking Basics
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Garden To Table
  • Seafood
  • Ferment
  • Foraging + Wild Game
  • Cooking Basics
  • Camping Recipes
  • Outdoor Adventure
  • Food Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Bourbon

    Honey Old Fashioned

    Published: Aug 3, 2023 · Modified: Aug 25, 2023 · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    This honey old fashioned cocktail is made with bourbon, aromatic bitters and a homemade honey simple syrup.

    Honey old fashioned cocktail in glass with bourbon bottle, cocktail jigger, and honey dipper stick.

    Here at Champagne Tastes, we're big fans of bourbon.

    We love bourbon for sipping, in cocktails, in recipes and (of course) the Bourbon Trail. After all, we are in Kentucky.

    Recently, while touring the James E Pepper Distillery, we learned about how the Old Fashioned cocktail was invented for James E Pepper. I even had a chance to sip on an Old Fashioned while we toured.

    Want to try some of our other bourbon cocktails? Check out this bourbon sangria, bourbon sour and Kentucky bourbon coffee.

    Old-Fashioned cocktail.
    Drinking an Old Fashioned at the James E Pepper Distillery

    It was quite an enjoyable experience.

    What Is an Old Fashioned Cocktail?

    This simple cocktail is traditionally made with bourbon, bitters, sugar and a twist of orange or lemon zest.

    It's sometimes (but not always) garnished with a cocktail cherry.

    Why Use Honey Syrup Instead of Sugar?

    For one, the sugar in an Old Fashioned never seems to dissolve for me.

    Or, for that matter, for the bartender at the James E Pepper Distillery. If you look closely, you can see the sugar in the bottom of the glass in the previous photo.

    Using a simple syrup instead of sugar allows the sweetener to dissolve in the drink, providing a sweeter cocktail.

    And why honey instead of sugar? It's simple — I like the flavor of honey in this drink.

    What Kind of Bourbon Should I Use For a Honey Old Fashioned?

    You can use any kind of bourbon you like, but make sure you enjoy the flavor. You'll definitely taste the bourbon in this cocktail!

    My favorites are Maker’s Mark (for a more traditional flavor) or Woodford Reserve’s Double Oaked Bourbon for a smokier flavor.

    Can I Use Whiskey Instead?

    Yes! Rye whiskey works well in an old fashioned, especially if you like a little extra spice in your cocktail.

    Avoid using any kind of flavored whiskey.

    Bottle of Woodford Reserve bourbon next to small bottle of aromatic bitters.

    What Type of Bitters Should I Use?

    Use aromatic bitters.

    I like to look for bitters without food coloring, which can be surprisingly hard to find. Jack Rudy Cocktail Co makes bitters without food coloring, and so does Trader Joe's.

    What Kind of Honey Should I Use in an Old Fashioned?

    Use whatever honey you have on hand!

    I love making this with a darker honey, like the Black Forest honey pictured below. It’s also delicious with specialty honey like the Woodford double barrel honey pictured, or with easy to find wildflower honey.

    Bottles of black forest honey, bourbon-barrel-aged honey, and wildflower honey.
    Variety of Honeys

    Swapping Orange Zest for Candied Citrus Slices

    Old fashioneds are traditionally garnished with lemon or orange zest. I love swapping in candied citrus slices like the ones pictured below from Trader Joe's.

    Package of sweetened dried orange slices.

    If you can't find candied orange slices, another option is unsweetened dehydrated orange slices.

    Of course, a little orange zest works well too if that's what you have on hand.

    How to Make a Honey Old Fashioned

    Start with the honey simple syrup.

    Heat equal parts honey and water in a saucepan until the honey dissolves, then set it aside to cool down. You can also make the syrup ahead of time.

    Next, fill a rocks glass with ice. I like to use silicone sphere molds to make large ice cubes.

    Next, add the bourbon, bitters and syrup to the rocks glass.

    Glass with honey old fashioned cocktail and ice cube.

    Either twist a little orange or lemon zest over the cocktail, then add it to the drink, or garnish your drink with a candied (or dehydrated) orange slice.

    If you want, add a cocktail cherry.

    Sip your this Honey Old Fashioned and enjoy this lightly sweet (and strong!) cocktail.

    Honey old fashioned cocktail in glass with bourbon bottle, cocktail jigger, and honey dipper stick.
    Honey old fashioned cocktail in glass with bourbon bottle, cocktail jigger, and honey dipper stick.
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    5 from 1 vote

    Honey Old Fashioned

    This honey old fashioned cocktail is made with bourbon, aromatic bitters and a homemade honey simple syrup.
    Author: Sarah Trenalone
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 minute min
    Total Time11 minutes mins
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Servings: 1 cocktail
    Calories: 158kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 rocks glass
    • cocktail jigger

    Ingredients

    Honey Simple Syrup:

    • 4 ounces honey
    • 4 ounces water

    Honey Old Fashioned:

    • ½ ounce honey simple syrup
    • 2 ounces bourbon Or use unflavored whiskey
    • 2 dashes bitters (~¼ teaspoon) Angostura are traditional, I prefer Jack Rudy Aromatic bitters
    • twist of lemon or orange zest Or swap for a candied orange or lemon slice
    • 2 cocktail cherries (optional)
    • ice I like to use large ice cubes
    • club soda (optional)

    Instructions

    Honey Simple Syrup:

    • Add the honey and water to a small pot. Heat over medium-low heat until the liquid is hot and beginning to steam. (There is no need to bring the syrup to a boil.)
      Remove syrup and set aside to cool. (I like to wait at least 10 minutes to avoid adding hot syrup to the drink.)
      Dissolve sugar or honey into the ginger water
    • Store syrup in a glass jar (or airtight container) in the fridge. Use within a month. You should have enough syrup for 8 cocktails.

    Honey Old Fashioned:

    • Add half an ounce of the honey simple syrup, 2 ounces bourbon and 2 dashes of bitters to a rocks glass with ice. Stir the cocktail.
      Twist the lemon or orange zest over the glass, then drop it into the glass. (Alternatively, skip the zest and add a candied lemon or orange slice.)
      Optionally, garnish with a cocktail cherry. If desired, fill the remainder of the rocks glass with club soda.
      Glass with honey old fashioned cocktail and ice cube.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 158kcal (8%) | Carbohydrates: 6g (2%) | Protein: 0.02g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 5mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Sugar: 6g (7%) | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 0.4mg | Iron: 0.1mg (1%)
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!

    More Bourbon Recipes

    • Barrel House Distilling Company brick exterior.
      Barrel House Distillery (Lexington, KY)
    • Large stills at Town Branch Distillery.
      Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. (Kentucky)
    • Sign for Limestone Branch Distillery with visitor center in background.
      Limestone Branch Distillery (Lebanon, KY)
    • Rickhouse at Wilderness Trail distillery.
      Wilderness Trail Distillery (Danville, KY)

    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    bio

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

    Learn More →

    Currently Trending

    • San marzano sauce in a pan
      San Marzano Sauce (Classic Marinara)
    • pan-seared rockfish on a plate
      Pan-Seared Rockfish
    • pan-seared red snapper on plates
      Pan-Seared Red Snapper
    • crab butter sauce on a platter with crab legs
      Crab Butter Sauce

    Footer

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For California Residents
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For Nevada Residents

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Recipe and Photo Reuse Terms + FAQ

    Copyright ©2015-2023 Champagne Tastes
    All Rights Reserved.